Operating mechanism



April 3, 1934. c. THUMIM 1,953,789

OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Sept; 20, 1932 Fig. l.

hwentov' Car-I Thurn inm H i s Attorneu.

Patented Apr. 3, 1934 PATENT OFFICE OPERATING MECHANISM Carl Thumim,Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporationof New York Application September 20, 1932, Serial No.'633,993

7 Claims.

My invention relates to operating mechanisms, more particularly totripping or releasing means for controlling thrust transmittingstructure of operating mechanism which is operatively connected to meansto be actuated, as a circuit breaker for example.

The use of operating mechanisms as direct current, solenoid operatingmechanisms having direct current tripping means is well known.

Since the power input for the direct current tripping means is often ofthe order of 200 watts,

a sensitive tripping latch is not required. However, in the case ofalternating current tripping means the input due to power limitations,may

be only of the order of volt-amperes so that a comparatively smalltripping force is available and a sensitive tripping latch is required.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision ofimproved tripping and releasw 20 ing means for operating mechanismswhichshall be simple and rugged in construction and sensitive and positive inresponse to comparatively small tripping forces.

My invention will be more fully set forth in the 26 followingdescription referring to the accompanying drawing, and the features ofnovelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisspecification.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a view, partly in section,illustrating operating mechanism embodying my invention in the operatedor closed position; Fig. 2 is a view of the operating mechanism shortlyafter the tripping or releasing operation; and Fig. 3 is a' viewillustrating the mechanism in the reset position prior to the closingoperation.

The operating mechanism illustrated is of the solenoid actuated typewherein collapsible thrust transmitting structure 1 is interposedbetween the solenoid 2 and the means to be actuated, which in thepresent case may be a circuit breaker (not shown) operatively connectedto the actuating rod 3. In the position shown in Fig. 1

the circuit breaker is in the closed position and the operatingmechanism is held in such position by a pivoted prop 4 and the trippinglinkage or toggle 5 which is in turn restrained by the pivoted member 6and the locking member 7.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, the closing operation will bedescribed. The solenoid 2 which is provided with a plunger having anoperating extension 2" is shown in the deenergized position, the thrusttransmitting structure 1 in the collapsed position and the trippingtoggle 5 and restraining and locking means in the reset position. Thethrust transmitting structure 1 comprises a main link or lever 8pivotally connected at 9 to one end of the tripping toggle 5 and to alink 10 having a fixed pivot 11. The main lever 8 is provided with aroller 12 mounted on an overhanging pin 13, the function of which willbe presently described. The lever 8 is likewise connected to the lever14 by an intermediate link 15, the lever 14 being suitably connected tothe rod 3 or means to be actuated.

The pivot pin 9 of the lever 8 is normally held fixed by the trippingtoggle 5 so that rotation of the lever B in counterclockwise directionis effective to cause downward or closing movement of the rod 3.

The tripping toggle 5 comprises an elongated link 16 connected at oneend to the pivot pin 9 and having at its other end a roller 1'7. Theother link 18 of the toggle is provided with a fixed pivot 19 and isconnected to the link 16 at 20 substantially intermediate its ends. Therestraining member 6 pivoted at 21 and provided with a roller 22 at itsopposite end has a notched recess 23 at one side thereof forming asurface 24 adapted to have cam engagement with the toggle roller 17. Thetoggle roller force acting normally on the surface 24 tends to causeclockwise rotation of the restraining member 6, the force acting througha lever arm as illustrated. The restraining member is, however, normallylocked against clockwise rotation by the pivoted locking lug 7 which issuitably biased towards locking position as by a spring 25.

When the solenoid 2 is energized the plunger including the extension 2'is projected upwardly so as to engage the roller 12 of the main lever 8and moves the same to the closed position shown in Fig. 1. During thelatter part of this operation the overhanging pin 13 rides against theinner edge 26 of the pivoted prop 4 which is biased, as by a spring 27,towards the position illustrated. Accordingly, the pin 13 in ridingalong the edge of the prop rotates the same a small extent against thebias of spring 27 in clockwise direction, the upper edge 26' of the propsnapping back under the pin 13 when the solenoid has raised the pinabove the edge of the prop. This position is clearly shown in Fig. 1,the mechanism being locked closed and the solenoid now being free to bedeenergized. During the above described operation the pivot pin 9 of thelever 8 is maintained in fixed position by the toggle 5, restrainingmember 6, and locking member 7.

The releasing means for actuating the locking no member 7 may beoperated in any suitable manner, as by manual or electromagnetic means.In the present instance the locking lug 7 is provided with an extension7 which may be engaged either directly by the plunger of the currentcoil 28 or indirectly through a lever 29 by a voltage coil 30. Thevoltage coil having considerably more power acts on the locking memberthrough a lever having a low mechanical advantage. Accordingly, thecurrent and voltage coils are arranged selectively to actuate thelocking member 7 in response to separate energization of either of them.

The actual tripping operation is best illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein thecurrent coil 28 is energized so as to actuate the locking member. Themechanism is shown shortly after the tripping impulse and prior tocomplete collapse of the thrust transmitting structure. Upon rotation ofthe locking lug '7 so as to release the roller 22 of the restrainingmember, the toggle roller 17 rides out of the notch 23 and forces therestraining member upwardly due to the reacting force acting on thetoggle. Upon release ofthe tripping toggle the pivot 9 becomes afloating pivot so that the main lever 8 is no longer supported inposition. As the pivot 9 moves to the left under the influence of thereacting force, the pin 13 rides ofi the edge 26 of the prop 4 so thatcomplete collapse of the thrust transmitting structure and openingposition of the mechanism is permitted.

In operating mechanism of the aforesaid type it is desirable to be ableto efiect a reclosing operation immediately after tripping or opening ofthe mechanism. It follows, therefore, that the tripping mechanism mustbe reset before starting of the next reclosing operation. In accordancewith my invention, this is accomplished by securing a member or strip toone of the toggle links, as the link 18, so as to move the lockingmember 7 to a non-locking position for permitting resetting of thetripping toggle, etc. Immediately after release of the tripping toggle,the' roller 17 tends to ride underneath the restraining member 6 liftingthe same above the locking face of the member '7.v

However, after collapse of the thrust transmitting structure andlowering of the pivot pin 9 the roller 17 drops a certain distance. Thisis indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2 illustrating the path of thetoggle roller 17 during the tripping operation. The restraining member6, which is normally biased so as to be in following engagement with theroller 17, therefore rotates counterclockwise so that its roller 22 islower than the locking surface of the member 7. If, now, no means areprovided for moving the locking member 7 to a non-locking position theroller 1'7 cannot re-enter the notch 23 for resetting the trippingmechanism, but simply rides along the lower edge of member 6 if thesolenoid 2 is energized. To avoid this difficulty, the extension member31 which in the present instance is connected to the tripping togglelink18 is arranged to engage a pin 7, or the like, fixed to the lockingmember 7 so as to hold said member in a non-locking position until theroller 17 has re-entered the notch 23. When the tripping toggle is sostraightened out, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the member 31 no longerengages the locking lug which is again biased by its spring over theroller 22, looking the restraining member in position.

Fig. 2 likewise clearly discloses how the mechaism is trip-free inoperation, that is, free to trip not withstanding continued energizationof the solenoid. Regardless of the position of the thrust transmittingstructure, unlocking of the restraining member causes the trippingtoggle and other mechanism to collapse so that the lever 8 isineffective to transmit force to the means to be actuated.

It should be understood that my invention is not limited to specificdetails of construction and Y arrangement thereof herein illustrated,and that changes and modifications may occur to one skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. In operating mechanism including collapsible thrust transmittingstructure and a tripping linkage controlling said structure, meansrendering said linkage sensitive to comparatively small tripping forcescomprising a restraining member engaging said linkage, a locking memberfor said restraining member, tripping means for actuating said lockingmember and means responsive to the position ofsaid tripping linkage forpositively holding said locking member in a non-locking position duringresetting of said linkage and restraining member.

2. Operating mechanism comprising thrust transmitting structure andtripping means controlling said thrust transmitting structure comprisinga linkage, a pivoted restraining member having a cam surface adapted tohave cam engagement with a roller carried by said linkage, a lockingmember for preventing rotation of said restraining member and release ofsaid roller, means for actuating said locking member, and means carriedby said linkage for holding said locking member in a non-lockingposition during resetting of said linkage.

3. In operating mechanism including thrust transmitting structure and atripping toggle connected to and controlling said structure, one link ofsaid toggle carrying a roller, a pivoted restraining member having a==irface adapted to have cam engagement with said roller preventingcollapse of said toggle, a locking member for preventing rotation ofsaid restraining member,

a tripping magnet actuating said locking memher, and a member carried byanother of said toggle links for holding said locking member in anon-locking position during resetting of said toggle and restrainingmember.

4. In operating mechanism including thrust transmitting structure and atripping toggle connected to and controlling said structure, one end ofsaid toggle carrying a roller, a pivoted restraining member having anotched recess for receiving said roller so as to prevent collapse ofsaid toggle, a locking member for said restraining member, trippingmeans for actuating said locking member, unlocking of said restrainingmember causing said roller to ride out of said notched recess andsubsequent collapse of said toggle, and a member forming an extension ofanother of said toggle links for moving said locking member to anon-locking position with respect to said restraining member duringresetting of said toggle and restraining member. 3

5. In trip-free operating mechanism for circuit breakers includingcollapsible thrust transmitting structure, tripping means forcontrolling said structure comprising a toggle having a link connectedat one end to said structure, a roller locking member adapted toengagesaid second roller, tripping means for actuating said locking member,actuation of said locking member and release of said second rollerpermitting rotation of said restraining member and collapse 0! saidtoggle, and a. member carried by another link or said toggle forengaging said locking member and holding it in a non-locking positionwith respect to said restraining member during resetting of said toggle.

6. In operating mechanism including thrust transmitting structure,tripping means controlling said structure comprising a linkage, a memberfor restraining said linkage in thrust transmitting position, a lockingmember normally biased to engage and lock said restraining member, meansfor actuating said locking member, actuation of said locking membercausing collapse or said linkage, and means controlled by said linkagefor holding said locking member in a non-locking positio with respect tosaid restraining member after tripping 01' said linkage and duringresetting of the same and said restraining member.

'1. In operating mechanism for circuit breakers including thrusttransmitting structure and a tripping linkage tor-controlling saidstructure, means controlling said tripping linkage comprising a lockingmember and tripping means for actuating said locking member comprising apair 01 electromagnets each actuated separately in response to currentand voltage conditions respectively so as to actuate selectively saidlocking member for releasing said tripping linkage, the currentelectromagnet acting directly on said locking member, and a leveroperatively connecting the voltage electromagnet with said lockingmember.

CARL THUMDI.

